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The Potion

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Vera Kennedy, widow of Professor James Kennedy, wants to be a scientist, but in Victorian Boston, that isn’t an option for women. Nevertheless, after assisting her husband in the laboratory with his experiments, she has learned everything she could through his unintended tutelage. After his death, she continues his work until she veers off onto a different path with her own experiments, which threaten to consume her to the exclusion of all else.

Georgette Harris, widow of Professor Roland Harris, has been left destitute in the wake of her husband’s death. He had amassed mountains of debt and left Georgette to pay it, in any way she could, and now she occupies a dilapidated and mostly empty mansion with what little food her remaining housekeeper can scrounge. So when a medicinals company wants to purchase a formula that Roland had proposed to them, Georgette searches for it without success, and then discovers evidence that her husband had worked with James Kennedy. Armed with this information, she seeks the help of Vera in uncovering the missing formula.

But Vera is not one to give up secrets easily, though she is inexplicably drawn to Georgette. Despite her reservations, she considers Georgette’s request, and they soon discover that both their husbands were involved in an experiment layered in deception and danger. Together, they sort through mysterious clues and talk to unscrupulous men in order to discover what that outcome was supposed to be and in the process, they may discover something far stronger between them.

206 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 24, 2018

3 people are currently reading
45 people want to read

About the author

R.G. Emanuelle

24 books78 followers
R.G. Emanuelle is a New York City native currently based in Brooklyn. She is the co-founder and co-owner of Dirt Road Books (www.dirtroadbooks.com). She is the author of novels, novellas, and short stories, as well as co-editor of several anthologies, including the Lambda Literary finalist All You Can Eat: A Buffet of Lesbian Romance & Erotica.

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5 stars
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4 stars
18 (45%)
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8 (20%)
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Profile Image for Lex Kent.
1,683 reviews9,863 followers
April 16, 2018
3.75 Stars. This was a quite the interesting read. I have never read Emanuelle before, though I have one of her vamp books. I liked her writing and her ideas. This story is different, and I’m always a fan of different. I guess the best way to describe this would be Victorian romantic mystery.

The story is about two women, whose scientist husbands have died. While one woman is trying to become a better scientist than her husband was, the other woman is just trying to survive. When it comes to light that both men might have been working together, Vera and Georgette must figure out what is going on before it is too late.

I enjoy books that take place in Victorian times, especially steampunk type books. This is not steampunk, but with the potions and science, it had that similar feel that I like. When I said this book is a mystery I don’t mean a murder mystery where someone dies and you find out the killer. I mean a mystery as these two women must work together to find out what the heck their husbands were up to. Little clues start to slowly unravel and you follow along with the characters to discover what is going on.

The romance felt a little choppy to me. It was very stop, start. Though at times I felt it was almost more lust than romance. It took me a while to warm up to the character of Vera. Vera is a scientist herself and is so self-absorbed, she bothered me a bit. I was glad I warmed to her as the book went on and I eventually could see the two mains as a possible couple.

I didn’t love this read, but it was entertaining and I liked it. I think this will appeal to Victorian and steampunk fans (even though this isn’t steampunk). Emanuelle has a good imagination and I will definitely be reading her again.

An ARC was given to me by DRB, for a honest review.
Profile Image for Agirlcandream.
755 reviews3 followers
May 6, 2018
The Victorian era was a time of advancements in science and technology. It was an age of enlightenment for men of science. So what were the wives of these scientists up to in Victorian Boston? Smart or otherwise, women were at the mercy of the decisions made by their husbands. Their survival hinged on the talents of their spouses and their success or failures in the advancement of science.

The Potion explores the lives of two of these women, widows of notable scientists. Vera Kennedy is nobody’s fool but is foolish in her determination to succeed where her late husband failed in his experiments. Or has she other ambitions in mind? Georgette Harris has sold everything of value in her house and is desperate to find a source of income to keep her from living on the streets. She knows her husband was working on something she might be able to sell to interested pharmaceutical companies. She needs Vera to search through her husbands notes to find the mysterious remedy her husband Roland was working on before his untimely death.

I enjoyed this Victorian tale as much for its accurate portrayal of women in the Victorian era as for its gothic horror subtext. Vera Kennedy is a woman obsessed with her own research. She finds the widow Georgette both attractive and intrusive. She wants to focus on her research but finds herself drawn to this fragile creature who is struggling to maintain her lifestyle following her husband's death. Georgette is living in desperate times. She has no money, has sold most valuables from her creepy gothic house which is crumbling around her, and she has an unsettling if devoted housekeeper. Unsavoury gentlemen are beginning to prey on her status as a widow. The things that go bump in the night all add to the atmosphere and add tension for the reader.

If you are looking for an historical romance with all the restraints imposed on women of this era, give The Potion a read.

ARC received with thanks from publisher for review.

https://latenightlesbianreads.wordpre...
287 reviews10 followers
April 15, 2018
Engaging and mysterious story
When I read the blurb for The Potion on Dirt Road Books's website weeks ago, I was intrigued and wondered what kind of book it would be. A mystery or one involving paranormal or supernatural forces or events? The lack of specifics fed my curiosity so I was eager to read it as soon as possible.

The book is similar to the blurb in that the story is told in such a wonderfully controlled and intentional way; details are gradually introduced, dropped like breadcrumbs leading to some unknown destination. As I read I kept wondering what details might be clues I'd need to remember going forward and how they would fit together, if at all. There are secrets and mysteries to be revealed and solved by the characters with a massive buildup of suspense and intrigue along the way. I had one mystery solved before its reveal but not all of them so I was kept engaged in finding out how the rest of them played out and when they did I was happily surprised.

There are some fascinating historical tidbits in the story around how women were viewed in the past and the ways their prospects and futures were raised or ruined by the actions of their husbands while having little social standing or power on their own as individuals. There is one scene involving food that is a feast for the senses to read, highly seductive, and reminded me of the author's culinary arts training as well as other stories they've written related to food and sensuality.

I found the ending satisfying, leaving me with no unanswered questions, although some readers may find that after all the buildup leading up to that point in the book, it may feel a bit understated by comparison. I recommend the book for reading on a dark and stormy night, for anyone wanting to lose themselves in another time and place. If you prefer books that keep you guessing, always wondering 'what exactly is going on here?' (in a good way), and don't hand you a predictable story within the first few chapters, The Potion will appeal to you and happily feed your curiosity along the way

I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
523 reviews54 followers
May 13, 2018
Well written, but the story just didn’t do it for me. Too slow. In addition to that I didn’t like MC Vera much. She was too cold and distrustful for such a long time that the romance between the mc’s was not very believable anymore. Not enough genuine feeling.
Profile Image for Anne.
806 reviews
April 25, 2018
I really enjoyed this. I don’t normally read historical fiction but this appealed because of the "mad scientist" angle and I wasn’t disappointed. Two widows - their husbands were scientists and may or may not have worked together. Their circumstances are totally different. Vera is working in her husband's laboratory but on what? Georgette is destitute and struggling to keep her house... in Victorian Boston they meet, and we have science experiments, bodices and petticoats, fights in alleyways and charlatans... well written so that you invest in the characters and want to know what Vera is up to. The ending is unexpected and nicely gothic. Recommended if you’re looking for something a little different from formulaic lesfic romance - even if you don’t usually like historical fiction.
Profile Image for BookFiend17.
114 reviews9 followers
April 15, 2018
The Potion by RG Emanuelle was a really interesting and enjoyable mystery. I found myself rooting for the main characters and feeling for Georgette. I was so wrong about what the noise upstairs was. I like not being able to figure the mystery out! Nicely done, RG Emanuelle. I highly recommend it. I would definitely read it again. I received an arc in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Angel.
334 reviews24 followers
April 26, 2018
This story is certainly captivating and unique because I got caught up in the numerous twists and turns as Vera navigates the scientific underworld. I admire Vera's determination to hold onto her autonomy and I also admire her quick wit because she sets out to do what no woman has ever done before. My heart really went out to Georgette because she has endured so much heartache and disappointment in such a short period of time. Many people would have fallen apart under the tremendous pressure Georgette was under and I just have to hand it to the author, she did an awesome job of portraying each character's inner struggles and I felt as though I was experiencing everything the characters were going through. I really hope a sequel to this wonderful story is on the horizon because I would like to read another book about these endearing characters!
Profile Image for eiruhhh.
3 reviews2 followers
April 26, 2018
3.5 stars for an interesting read.

At the start of the book, I struggled a bit. Perhaps I was not used to the author’s writing style? Or maybe the story was dragging itself? I’m not sure. But towards the middle part of the story, I can’t seem to put the book down and kept looking forward on what’s going to happen next. Then the story ended with its plot twist that has left me wanting more. It was like a roller coaster ride, really. Slowly building the anticipation, dropping and experiencing exhilaration, then its over before you know it. Wishing the ending was longer though.

Georgette’s character was flawless. I loved her from beginning ‘til end and contrasted nicely with the other main character. Not much of a fan with Vera’s character though. Especially towards the end? After your lifelong dream is becoming much closer? You just—ugh, I don’t wanna spoil anything. Maybe Vera had realizations after what almost happened to them? I don’t know, really.

Overall it was a good read. I liked it.

Its the first book that I have read from R.G. Emanuelle and I’m looking forward into reading more books from the author.

I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.
Profile Image for Melanie.
85 reviews11 followers
May 10, 2018
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest ARC review.

While the premise of the story was intriguing I found the writing to be more of a telling rather than showing thru the character's dialogue and actions, I found myself wondering when the two MCs would actually have a conversation face to face. Unfortunately, this lead to insta-love and a plot that moved along with no real intent in my opinion.
Profile Image for Carol Hutchinson.
1,124 reviews72 followers
April 28, 2018
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest ARC review.

This was the first time I have ever read a book by R. G. Emanuelle and I was fascinated by it. This is a wonderful twist of Science Fiction and historic novel, peppered with a little light romance, and mystery. Just a perfect combination.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story. The way it developed was very clever, just revealing tiny snippets to me guessing as to who was involved in what when it came to the potion Vera and Georgette’s husbands had been working on. I also liked how they were developed as characters, and the vivid descriptions that painted the picture of Vera, more glamourous and glorious yet still into her science herself and working on her own potion, and Georgette’s more dire position in life.

So much intrigue was in the pages of this story as it unfolded, revealing such darkness, yet such brilliance from both the main characters who were very brave in discovering the truth about their husbands. They also discovered a lot about themselves, a wonderful addition to the main story revolving around this potion, and who wanted to get their hands on such genius.

A brilliant read. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Meredith Burgess.
34 reviews
April 30, 2018
The Potion is a complex story that was surprisingly easy to read. I really enjoyed this story as it didn’t follow a predictable plan, it had a bit of mystery, suspense and deception, while still having some romance at its root.
Vera Kennedy comes across as a mad scientist initially who is hell bent on finding a scientific formula to a mysterious problem. Her character becomes warmer as the story progresses and she endeared herself to me as her attraction to Georgette blossomed.
Georgette Harris is a woman who is close to homelessness after her scientist husband dies and leaves her with a huge amount of debt and a decrepit house. She comes across initially as helpless but as the story progresses, she finds her inner strength and comes into her own.
Both women discover a deception and cover up by their diseased husbands, (who were working together on a scientific project to discover The Potion) and they must work together to fight the evil that surrounds them.
Both main characters are well developed, supporting characters are essential and keep the story moving along. There are no plot holes in this story. Dialogue is realistic and easy to follow.
Overall, a very enjoyable story that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
I was given an ARC for and honest review of this book.
Profile Image for Karen.
887 reviews10 followers
April 16, 2018
This was another wonderful book from Dirt Road Books. It’s set in Boston in the late 1800s and features the widows of two scientists, Vera and Georgette. Georgette finds information linking the two husbands which brings her to Vera’s doorstep. Georgette was left in dire debt and can only pay it off with the rest of the formula which she hopes Vera has. Vera is skeptical and reluctant to part with any secrets. That sets up the tension between them. As they continue to meet, they discover things aren’t what they seem, on many levels in this book. The plot definitely kept me guessing; I did not know what would be revealed next. Vera’s own experiments lead her to dangerous locations and men, but she learns more. This tale doesn’t just uncover the mystery of the husbands’ formula, but also explores whether Vera can let go of her suspiciousness and trust someone with her own secrets. I enjoyed the slow way that Emanuelle pulled the two women together. I’ll be reading this again.

I received an ARC for an honest review.
Profile Image for Betty.
286 reviews8 followers
December 8, 2019
Interesting gothic/gaslamp/Victoriana inspired story. It's a pretty decent read on the whole although it is very slow in places and repetitive. There are some issues, I think. For one, MC, Vera came across as cold and most mistrustful, which is in keeping with the general plot, but non-ideal for any romance. There was so much yes/no, trust her/don't trust her, come/go, seesaw until you feel you just want to get off the ride. MC Georgette, started off as a limp rag, but soon became a much more rounded person.


This is my first by this author and I would try another.
Profile Image for Ingrid Stephens.
726 reviews4 followers
September 8, 2018
Wow. I don't know what else to say but wow! I was drawn to this book strickly based on the publisher, Dirt Road Books, blurb. It was horror, in a way. I suppose it falls under the new genre Speculative Fiction. There was mystery, sudden death, murder and possibly a Jeykle and Hyde situation happening. With a grin, ready to be amused,I tucked in and was transported back to Victorian Age Boston. Each and every character was believable and so very real. I loved the Protagonist Vera Kennedy's desires, her drive, her love. Add in a nice slow burn Lesbian love story, well now we have a perfect book. It's hard to say much without giving away so much, so I will just say the writing is strong, the characters and their world believable and well built. This is the first book I've read by R.G. Emmanuelle but I can promise you it will not be the last. I would love more in this genre as well. Highly recommend. I was provided a copy of this book by Dirt Road Books with the agreement to five an honest and impartial review. I think I have.
106 reviews
May 1, 2018
I liked it but it took me awhile to get to that point. I was sort of frustrated with the character development. Vera, in particular, didn't seem to have a true line and I had to push to get past her continual change in thought and idea. It took awhile for the connection between the two characters to solidify and move past being told that they were attracted to each other and actually feel like they had a chemistry together. Speaking of chemistry, that part of the story was intriguing. I appreciated how Vera pushed past barriers into a profession that women were restricted for and created a new path of her own. If you enjoy historical novels, mad scientist, mysteries and women pushing into new professions this story is for you! I was given an advance reader copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for terry.
289 reviews6 followers
April 25, 2018
This was a great mystery romance set in the Victorian Era between two women whose husbands died mysteriously. Both Vera Kennedy and Georgette Harris are trying to find out what happened to their husbands and find themselves attracted to each other. Vera is following in her scientist husband shoes and trying to duplicate his research. Georgette is trying to find out how to get out from under the debt that her husband left her with. They band together when they find that their husbands where working together on their secret Potion. It’s a very well written story and takes turns that are surprising. I love the characters and enjoyed the story. I highly recommend it. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
17 reviews
April 26, 2018
The Potion was an interesting historical mystery, with a dash of the fantastic thrown in. Vera was a modern character (a female scientist), bound by the social mores and attitudes of Victorian Boston. The plot kicks into gear once Vera and Georgette work together to unravel their husbands' secret project.

While the Gothic feel of the writing - decrepit mansions and mysterious noises, cryptic notebooks and atmospheric lightning strikes - was cinematic, my favorite part of the story was how Georgette brought out the protective side of an initially prickly Vera. The sub-plot regarding the potion was not as compelling to me as the relationship between the two leads, but ultimately I think the author is one to watch!

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Maria Siopis.
Author 10 books10 followers
April 25, 2018
The Potion by E.G. Emanuelle is so well written that you will forget it’s about scientific discoveries or even magic. There is also a torturous relationship developing that consumes you entirely. Awesome read that will make your heart harmoniously erupt and crush in your chest, mine has not stopped ever since I finished the book. I love Vera Kennedy, total lie, I’m in love with Vera Kennedy who is the most sincere and sensitive individual. I wished she was real to meet. Georgette Harris is sweet and tender, and surely a great character, but I still love, love Vera. This book you must read!!!!!
Profile Image for Sam Alexander.
107 reviews
April 26, 2018
This is a good story from R.G. Emanuelle and DRB. The writing is tight and flowing, and the intrigue is handled well. I was expecting something alchemical, and when I started reading I was expecting it to end up as Victorian steampunk. The story ended up being alchemical for sure and is a well-plotted and well-written Victorian mystery with some romance, but the steampunk didn't really materialise. I think it would have been better if it had. It might have also benefited from a little more world building.
I enjoyed reading it, but it was not a book I can say I really loved. Maybe it is just not quite my cup of tea, but I'd recommend it anyway.
Profile Image for Fran Sappharc.
823 reviews46 followers
May 4, 2018
I was gripped firstly by the synopsis and unusual story for sure, then by the writing. About 30% and I did feel the protagonists were not progressing in their interactions (not a common complaint from me these days usually it is the opposite I complain about) then that would be another mysterious happening interaction or piece of information given and I was again intrigued with the goings on! I enjoyed this book and find it pacing and story refreshing. Good job! The only reason this is a four not five star review is that reading it was not all-consuming it was however a very good book this is an honest review of an arc
Profile Image for Kristy Drexel.
273 reviews8 followers
April 25, 2018
I wasn't sure if I would like this story when I read the blurb, I'm not really a Victorian era kind of gal. But there was a mystery to this story that had to be found. The authors style and tone pulled me right in, R.G. is a great story teller. While you might know there is going to be a happy ever after ending there is always that since of expectation, waiting for another twist in the tail. When I finished this book I had to pause and reflect on the magic of the story...I received an ARC for an honest review
308 reviews2 followers
October 29, 2019
Review copy received from publisher.
This is an enjoyable historical tale set in Victorian times. It's both a mystery and a lesfic romance and the author does a good job of building both the intrigue and the 'draw' between the two widows, Vera and Georgette. You find yourself involved and wanting to know more about the Potion and what exactly is going on surrounding it...or them! The slow build of trust as well as the two MC's mutual attraction is also handled with aplomb. Finally, the resolution is satisfying with 'compromise' being the watchword of the story!
Profile Image for Gail.
990 reviews58 followers
May 1, 2018
I rec'd an ARC from Dirt Road Books in exchange for an honest review.
This is a mystery romance with a dash of sci-fi set in the late 1800's in Boston with mold-breaking female scientists. A slow build storyline with ups and downs that still managed to flow and encouraged me to read through the night. Main characters Georgette and Vera will pull you along as their love progresses. Dare I hope for a sequel? I easily recommend Ms. Emanuelle's book.
4 stars
Profile Image for Lynn.
228 reviews14 followers
July 20, 2021
Great Book

Gothic Horror is not my usual genre but I really enjoyed it. I guessed some of the plot but not all of it.

An epilogue would have been nice and the language was a bit modern but very enjoyable never the less.
Profile Image for BookAddict.
46 reviews2 followers
May 9, 2018
I'm normally not a big mystery fan. but I really enjoyed this book. it kept my attention and kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next.
and what the heck that noise was.
will be recommending this book to others.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews

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